There are no studies that I am aware of that say that Vitamin E causes cancer. In fact, yesterday I read an article that said that SCC is associated with dietary deficiency of anti-oxidants (such as Vitamin E), which is a particular problem with smokers.

The study to which several of you may be referring (J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 97:481) is the one where the patients also received for a time beta-carotene (which has been shown to increase lung cancer risk in smokers in a large NCI trial.) The reviewer felt this compromised the Vit. E findings. However, the hypothesis that anti-oxidants taken during radiotherapy may scavenge free radicals (produced by the radiation) and thus reduce their effectiveness at killing the cancer cells (which are particularly vulnerable to radiation -induced free radical damage) probably has validity and for that reason, the current advice is to stop taking these supplements during radiation therapy. It's not only Vitamin E, but also C and some others. (The double-edged sword is that your healthy cells are also getting a lot of unprotected free radical damage at the same time.)

Btw, there is huge evidence that worldwide, diets high in anti-oxidants, especially those derived from FOOD and not from a pill, are associated with lower rates of cancer. Vitamin E itself has been shown in trials to be associated with significantly reduced rates of prostate cancer.

Our nutritionist at Hopkins emphasized the importance of continuing to eat foods containing naturally-occuring antioxidants, such as colored fruits and vegetables, as long as you are able during treatment. In fact this is good advice for anyone...Fruit shakes would be a good option (I am not too sure about those broccoli smoothies, though...<gr>)

Gail